Chuks Okocha
13 October 2008
Abuja — The Action Congress (AC) has called on President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to direct the anti-corruption agencies, especially the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to probe the role played by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the alleged frittering away of $16 billion in the power sector between 1999 and 2007.
The party hinged its call on the report of the Representatives Committee on Power and Steel that probed the expenditure.
The report had indicted the former president among others over the power sector fund.
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the committee, going by its recommendations, was unambiguous in calling for the probe of the former President.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the AC quoted part of the recommendations, as reported by a national daily thus: "In view of the enormity of issues entailed in the findings above, it is recommended that former President Olusegun Obasanjo should be called to account for the recklessness in the power sector during his time. The committee recommends that EFCC and ICPC should investigate him."
AC said a major issue concerning the mishandling of the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP), as discovered by the committee during its televised public sitting, was the granting of waivers to several contractors to receive huge payments without commensurate work done, all in the name of fast-tracking the projects.
But according to the committee, rather than fast track or facilitate completion of the projects as envisaged, the waiver of due process "became the major plank that facilitated payments to contractors and consultants that have failed to perform, at the expense of the nation and the power industry".
"This is nothing short of economic sabotage, which should attract the urgent attention of the EFCC," the party said, noting that President Yar'Adua had now run out of excuses not to swing into action to probe the former President and all those indicted in the findings.
It said during his tenure, Obasanjo would not have waited for such a preponderance of evidence before unleashing the EFCC against anyone, especially his perceived political enemies.
"Obasanjo made a big deal out of due process and transparency during his stormy tenure. That is good. But as it has now been revealed, he was selective in his application of due process. This is double standard, and he must be made to answer for that.
"After all, this dispensation places so much emphasis on the rule of law, which entails, among others, that no one is above the law, no matter how highly placed. This is another chance for the Yar'Adua administration to walk the talk, as they say," it added.
AC also warned against any attempt by the House to water down the report, saying the whole country is watching how the recommendations of the committee would be handled.
It said all the recommendations, including the purge of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to enhance its performance, must be implemented to the letter.
The House committee after concluding its public sittings earlier this year, was enmeshed in internal squabble over the writing of the report and a N100 million bribery allegation. The full House then mandated its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate the committee.
The report of the Ethics committee was turned in last Wednesday with a not guilty verdict on the committee members.
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